Russell calls Singapore Saturday a “very bad” day

George Russell called his Saturday at the Singapore Grand Prix a “very bad” day. The Mercedes driver admitted that his own mistake caused his retirement from the sprint race, an accident that may have affected his qualifying session. “Obviously a very bad day all in all, and stemming from my own mistake,” he said.

Starting from the front row, Russell moved into the lead on a wet Marina Bay track after getting away better than pole-sitter Max Verstappen. But he lost control while running slightly wide at the exit of the final corner, spun into the inside wall and retired.

Russell said the car did not feel the same and that he was struggling with the rear before the tyres overheated. He also pointed to the car having been rebuilt quickly after the crash. Toto Wolff confirmed that George’s car had only been completed at the very last minute. He also suggested that the floor was probably not in its optimal condition, while describing the performance as good. Mercedes still needs to examine that possibility.

The contrast was stark between Russell’s second place on the sprint qualifying grid and his sixth in the main qualifying session. He believes the gap was down to his mechanics having to rebuild his W17 in a hurry. A power-unit penalty, following the engine failure at Sepang, will send him to the back of the grid for the race. “It’s going to be very challenging,” he warned.